§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what the calculated or estimated annual rate of inflation is in the private sector of industry and in the public sector, using the most up-to-date figures readily available in each sector; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jim LesterSeparate retail prices indices for the public and private sectors 273W are not compiled because the distinction between these sectors is not clear-cut in relation to the prices of certain goods and services. The prices of goods and services produced by the public and private sectors are also not readily separable from those of imported goods. However a separate index is compiled for the prices of goods and services mainly produced by the nationalised industries. This index increased by 25.1 per cent., to 319.2 (January 1974=100), in the 12 months to September 1980 compared with an increase of 15.9 per cent., to 270.2, in the "all items" index.